3.Revolutions of the 80-s and their results

Perestroika in the USSR was not supported by the leaders of East European countries. They understood the necessity of reforms, but did not want to refuse from the system.

New political situation in East Europe was characterized by:

***

****Changes had some common features:

Questions for test

a. Democratic changes of the Popular Front

b. Socialist programmes in the 1950-60-s

c. Causes of economic and political crisis in the 1950-60-s

d. Revolutions of the 1980-s in East Europe

After the WWII the Communist parties in the West became more powerful.

B) After the WWII the Communist parties lost their positions.

C) After the WWII the Communist parties were renamed into Social- Democratic.

D) After the WWII trade unions joined the Communist parties.

The Berlin wall was constructed

A) to build bridge between East and West Germany

B) for communication

C) to separate East and West Germany

D) as a monument

Glossary

Popular front- Народный фронт

Accelerate- ускорить

Reference

История стран Европы и Америки, т., 3, стр. 234-256

13. Countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America on the ways of modernization

1. Brief content of the lecture

Decolonization

At the second half of the XX century the main goal of Asian, African and Latin American countries was modernization, the foundation of more developed national states. Feared new control of big powers, newly formed countries preferred not to join any unions and in 1955 organized Movement of Non- Alignment – these countries were called the “ Third world”.

Political and economic development of countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America was uneven: from highly developed countries ( Japan) to backward countries ( Tropical Africa).

Each country tried to find its own model of development using its own national ideology.

Japan founded “ welfare state of Japanese type” society of high effectiveness;

North Korea used the ideas of “ chuchkhe” ( master for himself) and formed the state founded on traditional values, nationalism, revolutionary changes;

Iran develops its model of modernization on Islamic traditions’ restoration;

Turkey – on principles of secular state of European type;

India develops stable democratic federative state using the ideas of state nationalism;

Pakistan- Islamic republic.

• Other examples?

Some countries ( Thailand, Cambodia, Morocco) are monarchies with the ideology based on religious belief and loyalty to monarch.

Developing countries’ problems.:

**1)Foundation of stable political regimes.

2) Development of democracy. All African countries officially became republics with parliaments, presidents, elections, constitutions, but democracy here is limited and struggle for power uses military methods- coup d’etat are very often ( in the 1960-s 64 military coups took place). In 30 African countries only one party is ruling, presidents have absolute power. Up to the 1990-s political violence was the usual thing : dictator of Central African republic Bokassa took part in killings, dictator of Uganda Idi Amin organized killing of 300 thousand people). Democratic changes have become more rapid since the 90-s.

3) Ethnic problems: problems of tolerance in multi-national countries ( India);

problem of national minorities ( Kurds),

4)territorial problems: Arabs made Jews leave their territories; Tanzania in 1960 exiled Jews;

But the problem of instability remained in all countries(except communist Cuba): coup d’etat were very often : in the 70-s the revolutionary regime of S. Aliende in Chili was replaced by dictatorship of A. Pinochet.

2

Countries that belonged to the group of developing countries since the 70-s may be divided into 4 groups:

1. oil- exporters

2. new industrial countries ( Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines)

3. industrial- agrarian countries ( Latin America)

4. agrarian countries of Tropical and South Africa.

GNP per capita in dollars ( 1994)

Singapore	23 360
Kuwait	19 040
Qatar	14 540
Argentina	8 060
South Korea	8 220
Saudi Arabia	7 240
Mexico	4 010
Malaysia	3 250
Brazil	3 370
Thailand	2 210
Tunisia	1 800
China	530
India	310
Haiti	220
Vietnam	190
Ethiopia	130
Mozambique	80

Questions for test

a. Characteristic features of modernization in the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America

b. Examples of uneven development of the countries

c. Problems in the region

d. Globalization in the region

The most globalized country is:

A) Singapore

B) USA

C) Japan

D) South Korea

The process of decolonization began after

A) WWI

B) Cold war

C) WWII

D) collapse of the USSR

“ Decolonization” means:

A) liberation of colonies

B) militarization

C) demilitarization

D) conflicts between colonies

“ Third World” means:

A) developing countries

B) Australia

C) Cuba

D) postindustrial countries

Glossary

Non- alignment- неприсоединение

Backward- отсталый

Coup d’ etat- переворот